The Inner Stanza Border Checkpoint (2)

Ka-cha!

A door opened and Vivian stepped inside a room.

The room was a simple one-bedroom room located on the second floor. There was a single bed, a desk with a lamp and chair, a large cabinet, an armor stand and a window. There was also a magic panel that not only controls the light but can also control the temperature of the room.

There's a bed and pillow but no bedsheet, blanket, pillowcase…

There's also no curtain on the window…

I wasn't expecting that I should bring or buy my own…

Her gaze turned to the walls.

The wallpaper seems old but is more or less well-kept…

I'll have to check later if there are peepholes or secret doors…

And also if light could sip out…

Next was the floor.

It's only made of wood, there's no carpet and there are obvious slits…

I can't bleed here…

"The bedsheet, blanket, pillowcase and curtain are kept downstairs inside the storage room. I'll bring fetch them now," said Finley.

Vivian turned to him.

This guy…

I can't tell where his accent is from…

Doesn't sound like from Luxen, Heisen or the Holy Kingdom…

I wonder where it's from…

"Thank you, Brother Sergeant Finley," she said and flashed a warm smile under her Inquisitor Half-Mask.

"No problem. But you can just call me Brother Finley while we're not in ceremony."

Vivian raised an eyebrow behind her mask which Finley couldn't see. However, he felt her surprised expression which made him quickly explain himself.

"I mean -- I didn't mean -- What I'm trying to say is that I'm not being ignoring the Holy Crusade's chain of command. It's just that Brother High Lieutenant Lennon suggested that if it's just us Priests interacting with each other here in our quarters, we only have to call each other Brother or Sister in order to build more rapport with each other because addressing each other with our ranks feels distant. We're on the frontlines after all so it would be much better if we develop a stronger sense of camaraderie. Furthermore, it would be quicker to just say Brother Lennon or Brother Finley in the heat of battle."

At each border checkpoint, there were only a couple of buildings. This building was exclusive to the Temple of Priests members only.

So the Squad leader of our group is the casual type, huh…

I prefer sticking to the rules…

Most of the time nothing good comes from being too close with your co-workers…

But on the other hand, I also have to get along with the group…

After all, I'm going to be working with these people until my contract ends…

Ugh…!

So many unnecessary social rules…

"I see. I'll try to keep that in mind."

"I'll get the bedsheet, blanket, pillowcase and curtain right now."

"By the way, is there a Training Room here?"

"Training Room? Yes, there are two Training Rooms downstairs and each room has a metal slab."

Ah, the metal slab…

It's been a while since I used that…

I wonder if it can withstand my Magic Force…

As far as Vivian knows, Rainbow Steel and Spirit Steel are very rare metals, especially the latter. So much so that some people would even wage war to get their hands on them.

"I see. Thank you."

***

12:42 p.m.

The sky started raining once again.

Vivian was no longer wearing her Crusader Armor and carrying a sword on her waist. Instead, she was wearing an Inquisitor Half-Mask, an Earring of Spirit on her right ear, and a gold necklace around her neck, and a White Cloak with its hood pulled down. And underneath her cloak, she wore a black short and fitting long-sleeved backless turtleneck dress, a pair of black leather gloves, and another pair of long-legged black leather boots that reached up to her thighs. 

She was walking within the compound and on her way to the Main Office Building where everyone, at least all key personnel, had their own work desk.

When she got to the building, she found herself inside a wide and spacious office room with two long desks in the center and several cabinets on the side.

A few people were currently present and sitting behind their desks. Some of them noticed the bare skin between Vivian's short dress and long-legged boots, causing them to formulate some ideas about what kind of person the new Inquisitor was.

Vivian made eye contact with them and flashed a warm smile.

"Hi, I'm looking Brother High Lieutenant Lennon. Is he here?"

One of them answered, it was Arabella from the Knights Squad.

"I believe he's at his office," she said and pointed. "That one over there."

Aside from the shared office space, there were also 3 small private offices within the room.

"Thank you," Vivian said and smiled before making her way to the office that Arabella pointed at.

Knock.

Knock.

She knocked on an opened door.

"Come in," said a male voice.

Vivian stepped in and saw Lennon sitting behind a desk. 

He wasn't wearing his White Cloak anymore and instead had it hanging in the corner and there was a pot and cup of tea on the desk.

In this world, there was only breakfast and dinner. Although there was a "lunch break", it didn't technically mean that it was for eating. It was simply a form of rest time.

She saluted.

"Brother High Lieutenant Lennon, I came here to perform my duties right away."

Lennon's eyes became wide for a brief moment.

"I see. At ease. And please take a seat, Sister Inquisitor Monad. Would you like some tea?"

"Thank you and no thank you, Brother High Lieutenant," Vivian said before taking a seat at one of the chairs in front of Lennon's desk.

"You're already done arranging your room?"

"Yes, Brother High Lieutenant."

"That was quick."

"Yes, Brother High Lieutenant."

"Hmm... Let's see... Normally, when a new member arrives, we let them take the rest of the day off on their first day to recover from their journey coming here." 

"Thank you for your concern, Brother High Lieutenant. But I'm fine and can perform my duties right away."

"That's good to hear and I'm also glad to see that you're so eager."

Vivian didn't say anything. 

"Usually, we would also give the new member a tour around the compound. But as you can see, the weather isn't exactly favorable at the moment."

She glanced at the windows and saw the rain became stronger.

"Yes, Brother High Lieutenant."

"But since you're already here and you want to work right away, the only thing I can do right now is show you to your office."

"Thank you, Brother High Lieutenant," Vivian said and got up.

Lennon got up as well and didn't bother to grab his White Cloak before heading outside his office.

There were 3 private offices in the Main Office Building.

The first one was Lennon's office as the highest commanding officer for the Priest Squad.

The second one was Edgar's office as the highest commanding officer for the Knights and Guard Squads.

And the last one was the office of the Inquisitor. 

Lennon led Vivian to her office.

"This is your office."

Since the Priest's way of learning Class Magic was easing the pain and suffering of others and it wasn't easy to become an Inquisitor, one of the Inquisitor's responsibilities is to sniff out any corruption within the border checkpoint. In fact, Vivian was "technically" the third leader in the Third Inner Stanza Border Checkpoint. In the event that there was an emergency and Lennon and Edgar were not available to lead for whatever reason, she had the authority to take command.

She entered her office and swept her gaze around.

There was a desk, a lamp, a cabinet, some chairs, a sofa with a coffee table, and two windows.

Looks well-maintained…

She turned around to see if there was a Magic Panel near the door.

Thank God there's one...

She resumed sweeping her gaze around the room.

Although this office isn't as bare as my room, it still needs a little bit more decoration…

A small smile appeared on her face.

But at least I finally have my own office…

Back in her original world, she didn't have her own office and had to share office spaces with her co-workers. After all, she was only 24 years old normal employee.

"Are you aware of your work schedule?" asked Lenon.

Vivian turned to him.

"Yes. 8:00 am to 11:00 am and then 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm every day. I'm also required to provide support during emergencies."

Although Vivian's schedule might sound harsh because she had to work every day and must provide support during emergencies until her contract ends, the others such as the Priests from the Infantry Division and also the Knights and Guards had to work at night. But those who had to work at night didn't have to work during the day and there was a rotation with the scheduling to make it fair. 

"Good," Lennon said and nodded. "Oh, I almost forgot to mention, a small welcoming party for you will be held at dinner at our building and all or most of the key personnel will be invited."

"Noted, Brother High Lieutenant."

"Well, since you want to start working right away and the weather isn't favorable, you can just stay here in your office or in the office hall. In case you're needed, someone will call for you."

"Noted, Brother High Lieutenant."

Since Inquisitors have to hide their identity due to the nature of their work, none of her co-personnel was allowed to ask Vivian personal questions. They can't even ask her to reveal her officer rank unless the situation really calls for it. Because of this, whether Vivian already knows what to do or not, Lennon asking and telling Vivian about how things work around here was his own way of being on the same page with her.

Satisfied, Lennon nodded and was about to turn away and leave but stopped mid-way.

"And if you need anything else, you can call me or anyone at the office hall."

"I need something, Brother High Lieutenant."

"Huh? I mean, what is it?"

"I need a map around this area."

"A map of this area?"

"Yes, I would like to understand the topography of the area I'm at so that I'll be able to act accordingly in case an emergency emerges."

Lennon scratched the back of his head.

"Okay… I'll inform Brother Anthony about that. But in case he's not available, there's also Knight Arabella. But I'll check on Brother An-- Lieutenant Anthony first."

"Thank you, Brother High Lieutenant," Vivian said and smiled.

"Anything else?"

"Just that, Brother High Lieutenant. Thank you."

"Okay, I'm going now."

When Lennon finally left, Vivian went over to her desk.

She sat down and placed both of her hands on top of the desk before running her palms on the wooden surface.

This feels nice…

A small smile appeared on her face for a moment before it vanished.

But seriously, this office needs more items…

I need thicker curtains and a full-body mirror here…

I also need a better sofa…

The sofa looked quite old inside her office looked old.

I wouldn't be surprised if I sat on them and got itchy…

She opened her drawers.

The drawers have no keys…?

Unlike her room, she had a key. But for this office, the door, the cabinet and the drawers, there was none.

There's obviously a lock though…

Maybe there used to be keys but they kept getting lost…?

The cabinet and drawer seem to be old as well…

I also want a plant or some kind of flower…

Knock.

Knock.

There was a knock on her door and she turned her head towards its direction.

It was Anthony.

"Sister Inquisitor Monad, Brother High Lieutenant inform me that you needed a map of the area?"

"Yes, Brother Lieutenant."

"I brought a copy for you," he said as he entered her office.

After graduating from the Training Course, Vivian was given many things. One of them was the current official map of the Northern Continent. As an Inquisitor whose main purpose relies more on eradicating corruption within the Temple of Priests, they needed the latest and most accurate information. However, the map of the Northern Continent in her possession only covers the general landmarks. It doesn't cover the minute details that only the locals of the specific region would be aware of.

Anthony laid out the map on the desk in front of Vivian.

"This is the latest map of the Marbleam Kingdom that we have."

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Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

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